Building structure with self-contained raising and lowering mechanism



Feb. 6, 1940. D'AWCO 2,189,486

BUILDING STRUCTURE WITH SELF-CONTAINED RAISING AND LOWERING MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1938 i \W\\ \q Hi l! I I m:

Patented Feb. 6, 1940 BUILDING STRUCTURE WITH SELF-CON- TAINED RAISING AND LOWERING MECH- ANISM Andre DAmico, Rochester, N. Y.

Application May 7, 1938, Serial No. 206,622

1 Claim.

This invention relates to disappearing structures and has for its principal objectv to provide '-a novel movable structure equipped with all necessities for use as a dwelling which may be raised and lowered at will to be concealed within the ground or elevated above the ground in order to protect the structure against fioods, dust storms, cyclones etc., and against destruction from the air by bombing or other means during war times.

This and other objects and attendant advantages will become more readily apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which the figure shows a vertical section of the novel structure forming the subject matter of the invention.

As illustrated in this, figure, the structure in the form of a dwelling l is constructed on a suitable ground floor 2 from which depend the guide posts 3, 3. These guide posts project into the vertical pit l and guide the vertical movement of the dwelling structure as well as hold the structure braced in an erect position when it is raised to and above theground level 5.

Between the guide posts 3 and below the ground floor 2 is provided the supporting platform 6. This platform is spacedfrom the ground and maintenance of the structure.

floor so as to form an operating room for the apparatus whichis necessary for the movement Movement of the structure is-effected by a hydraulic lift which comprises the hollow piston l which is mounted to move in and out of the ,cylinder 8.

.The latter extends into the ground from the bottom of the pit 4 so that the piston is. free to The closed top of the piston is connected with the air storage move'up and down in the pit.

tank 9 which is filled with compressed air by the air compressor H]. A suitable two-way valve ll is provided in the air line I2 which connects the tank 9 with the inside of the piston I so that. air under pressure from the tank may be admitted to raise the piston in its cylinder or allowed to escape from the'piston to cause it torecede into the cylinder. A suitable oil or other liquid is contained in the hollow piston and the cylinder and the compressed air admitted and exhausted from the hollow cylinder operates to transfer the liquid fromthe piston into the cy1-- inder and back again in the operation of the piston.

Electric power for the operation of the compressor II] by means of the electric motor I3 is generated by the generator M which in turn is driven by an internal combustion motor I operated from fuel stored in the fuel'storage tank IE. The electric power generated by the gen, erator M is also used for heating and lighting the interior of the building. A suitable Water storage tank [I is located within the building to provide an ample water supply at uniform pressure in the raised or lowered position of the building. This water supply tank is adapted to g be filled in any desired manner.

In order to provide proper sanitation. for the building in its elevated and lowered positions, its soil pipe EB may be connected with both a sewer pipe I9. and a cess pool 20. For this purpose the soil pipe is provided with a valve struc:

ture made up of a valve housingZl, a sliding pipe 22 movable in this housing and a valve 23 carried on a valve rod 24 for opening and 0105- ing the open end of the sliding valve as well as moving the sliding pipe. The open end of the sliding pipe is adapted to telescope into the end of the sewer pipe with the building elevated into the position illustrated in the figure to thus connect thesoil pipe with the sewer pipe I9. Before v.the'building is raised into a higher position or lowered into the pit, the sliding pipe is pulled v out of engagement with the sewer pipe by pulling the handle of the valve rod 24 to close the end of the sliding pipe by means of the valve 23. In so doing the opening 25 in the sliding pipe 22 is brought in register with an extension 26 of the soil Pipe l8 to thus connect the soil pipe with the cess pool 20. i

I In order to provide for ingress and egress into the building while it is located within the pit either wholly or partially, a suitable stair case 21 is located adjacent to the pit 4,.and a man hole 28 at a distance to one side of the building and normally closed by a cover 29 serves as the inlet and outlet for this emergency staircase.

For the purpose of holding the structure in a natural elevation inwhich the ground floor thereof is substantially in line with the ground level which surrounds it, suitable horizontally movable bolts 3! are provided which are adapted to engage the ledges 3!! provided in the sides of the pit near the top thereof. When the structure has been elevated so that the bolts 3| are in line with the ledges 30, or slightly above them, they are moved outwardly from the bottom of the structure so as to provide for the entire support of the structure by a number of these bolts.

The hydraulic mechanism is then relieved from the support and may be held inactive until it is desired to either raise and support the strucdwelling comprising actuating and control means located in said compartment, a soil pipe positioned substantially vertically in said dwelling 15 and extending through said compartment, a first sewage receiving means positioned in the side of said pit opposite the position of said compartment when said dwelling is in the elevated position, a second sewage receiving means projecting upwardly from the bottom of said pit substantially in the line of said soil pipe, and twoway valve means mounted in said compartment detachably connected to said first sewage receiving means and connected with said second sewage receiving means and arranged to selectively connect said soil pipe with said first or with said second sewage connecting means, whereby sanitation is provided for said dwelling in both elevated andlowered positions.

ANDRE DAMICO. 

